Trump also suggested that “Bernie’s guy, like Bernie himself, never had a chance,” a reference to Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., who came in a strong second on Saturday.

Perez barely missed getting elected on the first ballot. After a 235-200 in his favor, he officially became chair on an acclamation vote. And a motion to make Ellison deputy chair of the DNC was approved.

To be successful, he must work toward holding a battered and disheartened party together in the aftermath of the game-changing national election that propelled Trump into the White House and secured Republican control of both the House and the Senate.

The pressure is on for Democrats to take on vulnerable Republicans in 2018, and to defend Democratic House members and senators up for re-election — especially in states and districts where the majority of voters turned out for Trump.